Podcast Archives

Retro Encounter 490 – The Legend of Zelda Tier List Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on July 16, 2026

Retro! Retro! Kooloo-Limpah! This week’s Retro Encounter marks the return of the tier list! This time around we’re ranking 20 entries in The Legend of Zelda franchise. What better way to celebrate 40 years of the beloved series than for our four panelists to upset each other with their differing tak… Read More »

Random Encounter 351 – I Don’t Know Much About Sword Art Online, But I Know What I Like

Posted by Jonathan Logan on July 13, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re chatting about new DLC for a game that spent over a decade in development, and another title that feels like it should have been released a decade ago. First up, Audra is here to chat about Endless Ragnarok, the new DLC for the action RPG Granblue Fantasy:… Read More »

Retro Encounter 489 – Xanadu Next Part II

Posted by Ben Love on July 2, 2026

Three years hence the War of the Knights…The old ways rang of their death knell, a fresh wind began to blow. The path the one knight chose, he continued being a knight even after. This week on Retro Encounter, our panel returns to discuss the second half of Falcom’s oft-forgotten dark fantasy acti… Read More »

Random Encounter 350 – The Adventures of Deltarune

Posted by Jonathan Logan on June 29, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, we have a new chapter of a beloved game and a new release from a beloved studio! First up, Aleks is here to chat about the newly released fifth chapter of Deltarune. It sounds like we are going to be getting seven of them, so they are very much in the home stretc… Read More »

Retro Encounter 488 – Xanadu Next Part I

Posted by Ben Love on June 18, 2026

Still…An ancient castle that only appears in the mist, and a holy sword that rests therein…It’s like a fairy tale! Just hearing about it makes my heart beat faster! This week on Retro Encounter, a panel of Falcom afficianados (and one relative newcomer) explores the ruins of Xanadu Next’s Harlec… Read More »

Random Encounter 349 – Not-E3 2026 Extravaganza!

Posted by Mike Salbato on June 15, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, the 2026 Summer Game Fest season is officially upon us! For video game fans, mid-June is still basically early Christmas. Even though E3 is firmly in the history books, the nonstop gaming announcements haven’t slowed down and, this year, there are a lot of presents u… Read More »

Retro Encounter 487 – Top 10 PSWii60 RPGs

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on June 4, 2026

This podcast is historically accurate. You can attack its weak point for massive damage. The era of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii was a monumental one. The advent of high-definition visuals, the improvement of online play for consoles, and unprecedented console processsing power lead to seven… Read More »

Random Encounter 348 – Mina the Barista

Posted by Jonathan Logan on June 1, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re digging for some sweet, sweet caffeine! First up, Bob is here to chat about Yacht Club Games’ newest title, Mina the Hollower. Yacht Club struck gold a decade ago with their retro side-scroller Shovel Knight and its various campaigns, but since then, they’v… Read More »

Retro Encounter 486 – Final Fantasy VIII Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on May 21, 2026

…Whatever. This week on Retro Encounter, the panel is back to offer their thoughts on all the (beautiful?) nonsense that happens in the second half of Final Fantasy VIII. Which one of us prefers Triple Triad over the entire rest of the game? Did our positive impressions crumble under the weight of t… Read More »

Random Encounter 347 – Darkness and Retro Light

Posted by Jonathan Logan on May 11, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s all about the aliens! First up, Directive 8020. The latest game in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology series, 8020 brings choice-based horror movie vibes into space. Pulling from the classic horror sci-fi films The Thing and Alien, did this inte… Read More »

Retro Encounter 485 – Final Fantasy VIII Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on May 7, 2026

I dreamt I was a podcast host. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, a panel of four veterans and one newbie take advantage of Zach’s absence to play the controversial but undeniably stylish Final Fantasy VIII. How do we feel about its unconventional design and storytelling choices? Is the cast… Read More »

Random Encounter 346 – Will the PS5 Rescue Starfield?

Posted by Jonathan Logan on April 27, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re talking all about two older games that have recently been revitalized with new gameplay! When Starfield was released in 2023, it was divisive, to put it mildly. Some said it was one of the best games ever, some said it was the worst game ever, but most gree… Read More »

Retro Encounter 484 – Persona 5 Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on April 23, 2026

Quit the idle chit-chat and let’s listen to Retro Encounter. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the second half of Persona 5, including all the post-game Royal content. Did this game really need to be longer? What do we think of the new content? Just how long can one game be? Listen in to fi… Read More »

Random Encounter 345 – PAX East 2026 Roundup!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on April 13, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re talking all about some of the RPGs and adventure games found at this year’s PAX East! Originally known as the Penny Arcade Expo, both PAX East and West have become long-running institutions in the video game industry. This year, our fearless editor-in-chief… Read More »

Retro Encounter 483 – Persona 5 Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on April 9, 2026

Looking cool, Retro Encounter. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the first half of Persona 5. We discuss the dazzling style, combat, and the sometimes less than dazzling structure. Who do we want to romance? Does the game still hold up? Does Morgana ever let us do anything but sleep? Listen… Read More »

Random Encounter 344 – Life is Strange: Carmageddon

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 30, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, we talk about cars ramming one another and time travel. And no, for once, this isn’t a Back to the Future reference (although it could be)! First up is Matt chatting about the big grand finale of the Life is Strange franchise, Life Is Strange: Reunion (although w… Read More »

Retro Encounter 482 – Pentiment

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on March 26, 2026

Retro Encounter is the only reason to do anything in this life. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the 2022 Obsidian masterpiece Pentiment, a game about murder, religion and the stories we tell about those things. Is there a right answer? Who do we accuse? Why are Socrates and God on the sam… Read More »

Random Encounter 343 – Pokémon vs. The World

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 16, 2026

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s the end of the world as we know it, and Ditto feels fine! First up, Ben is here to chat about the latest Pokémon spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia. Man is dead, and the Pokémon rule. We don’t think that anyone expected that we’d get a post-apocalyptic Pokémon game,… Read More »

Retro Encounter 481 – Best Final Bosses

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on March 12, 2026

The only thing we can believe in, with absolute certainty, is Retro Encounter, Jack. This week on Retro Encounter, we chat about bosses. But not just any bosses–no, we talk about final bosses. They’re supposed to be a final challenge, but are they always? Do we even want a challenge at the end? How… Read More »

Random Encounter 342 – Adventure Islands!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 2, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re talking about two new games that both take place on very different islands! First, Bob is here to chat about the standalone sequel to 2023’s Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse. This visual novel brilliantly mixes r… Read More »

Retro Encounter 480 – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 26, 2026

…wrong. I am a podcast. This week on Retro Encounter we dive into the second half of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. How much of the story do we actually get to experience? How much do we enjoy the late game maps? What are our favorite support conversations? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach… Read More »

Random Encounter 341 – Proud RPGFans

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 16, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re talking about two “old” games (though one is significantly older than the other)! First up, Audra is here to share her thoughts on Ys X: Proud Nordics. But wait, didn’t Ys X: Nordics just release in 2024? Yes, it did! But now, an even more complete version is h… Read More »

Retro Encounter 479 – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 12, 2026

For years, I’ve podcasted. Now, let those podcasts show their worth! This week on Retro Encounter we’re discussing the first half of the first game localized to the West of that most famous SRPG series: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Does the host jive with the squares and the RNG? Do we even disc… Read More »

Random Encounter 340 – Cause and Effect

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 3, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, it’s all about games featuring cause and effect! First up, Audra is here to chat with us about the time-travelling, Souls-like sequel to 2019’s Code Vein: Code Vein II. Though it can occasionally feel like being trapped in a time loop while playing against a Souls-li… Read More »

Retro Encounter 478 – RPGs That Deserve a Perfect Score

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 29, 2026

On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we discuss something that has only been awarded once at RPGFan: a perfect score. So, each panelist brings on one game they think deserves a perfect score and defend it against the panel. But there can be only one! Who will be our winner? Listen in to find o… Read More »

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